How to make a claim against the ambulance service

Every day, thousands of paramedics go to work for their local ambulance service. In London alone, ambulances have been a regular sight on the roads for over a century. Each part of the country has its own ambulance service, providing emergency care for people who have fallen ill or been in accidents and need to be treated and taken to hospital as quickly as possible. As you can imagine, it is very rare that anyone would have cause to make a claim against the ambulance service. However, with that said, there is a slim chance something could potentially go wrong at some point, causing the possibility that someone could claim against the ambulance service if they were hurt or did not receive the care they were entitled to.

Statistics show there were around 20,000 paramedics working throughout the UK during 2016. The number has varied markedly over the years, but was at its lowest in 2011, when the number working in this profession fell to 14,000. Paramedics receive extensive training to do their job, and they work under very stressful conditions. The overwhelming majority of them work tirelessly and in a dedicated fashion, helping people when they need it most. It is uncommon to hear about any claim made against anyone working in this job.

Why might you consider a claim against the ambulance service?

This may be something you think about if you think you have received care that falls below the standards expected of the service. This may potentially fall into one of four categories, although there may be other examples that could crop up, too:

Substandard communication between parties – a paramedic may not have been given all the necessary information. Similarly, they may not relate accurate information ahead of the ambulance’s arrival at hospital.

Failing to take someone to hospital – in some cases, a paramedic may assess a patient after being called out and may decide they do not need hospital treatment. However, if that person later falls ill because they did not receive treatment quickly enough, there is a chance this could constitute negligence.

Failing to give the required treatment – was medication neglected that could have made a difference to the condition of the patient? Did the paramedic fail to treat the person for a suspected injury that was later confirmed, causing paralysis or another complication?

Failing to identify the symptoms present – a paramedic must identify the symptoms a patient has, so they can treat them accordingly. If this does not happen, the person could become more ill, and possibly suffer complications that could potentially have been avoided.

You may think about a claim against the ambulance service if any of these situations have happened to you. Furthermore, if you are a close family member of someone who has suffered in a similar situation to the ones above, you may be able to claim on their behalf if they cannot do so themselves. If you have lost a loved one and you think it was due to a failure to treat them properly or quickly enough, a claim against the ambulance service may potentially be possible.

The ambulance service does not only have ambulances to dispatch when called for. Other units may also be sent out, such as an air ambulance or a rapid response vehicle. If you suspect there was a failure to send the right help, you may wish to learn more about the potential outcome and what you can do.

Was the ambulance service negligent?

Whenever you find yourself in a situation like this, it can be difficult to know what to do or where to turn. Remember, most of those who receive treatment from the service will be thankful for the outcome, and will have no complaints to make, even if a loved one could not be saved by those who were in attendance. Sometimes, nothing can be done to save someone, and sometimes, the appropriate actions are taken but they may not have the desired outcome.

This makes it vital to speak to a personal injury lawyer who has experience of handling cases of medical negligence and similar situations. We all know accidents can happen anywhere, which is why it makes sense to learn essential first aid techniques. But no matter what happens, you expect the ambulance service to take over and to do so admirably and professionally if you do ever need to call on their services. Thankfully, this is usually the case, and the odds of needing to consider a claim against the ambulance service are rare indeed.

Call our team today to find out if you could claim

Whether first aid is given or not, there is a feeling of relief when the ambulance service turns up, whether this is an ambulance, a first-responder, or even a trained doctor on a bike to get to someone at speed. If you suspect the outcome may point to a case of negligence, it is imperative that you get urgent and experienced advice as quickly as possible from a lawyer who regularly deals with such cases. You have three years from the date of the incident to contact someone and begin a claims process if you can, but the sooner you do it, the sooner you will know where you stand.

So, to discover if you could claim against the ambulance service, simply call 0800 689 5659 now to reach the helpful team of advisors at Accident Advice Helpline. Seeking advice is a good thing, and doing so via us means there is no obligation to continue if you find you do not wish to do so. But knowing where you stand is important, and if we can help you claim, we will be behind you for every step of the journey you make. Knowing we are here could make all the difference for you.

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